Unleashing the Power of Authenticity to Drive

Employee Engagement

@TalentAnarchy@JasonLauritsen@JoeGerstandt

#FreakFlag

Webinar

Performance Engagement Innovation

HR ConsultingLeadership Training

Facilitation

1. be open2. get involved

3. be authentic

4. stay in touch

5. use karma

6. invest

1. be open2. get involved

3. be authentic

4. stay in touch

5. use karma

6. invest

au·then·tic[aw-then-tik]  adjective1.not false or copied; genuine; 2.having the origin supported by       unquestionable evidence;                authenticated; 

FLY YOUR FREAK FLAGFREAK FLAG• Outlier• Odd ball• Weirdo

• Deviant• Out on a limb• Crazy

A hypothesis

Maybe the reason for low employee 

engagement is that there isn’t enough authenticity in the 

workplace.

Investigation

2 Questions

1.Do employees feel that the workplace encourages authenticity?

2.Is there a linkage between authenticity and employee engagement?

Details3,630 employees surveyedResponses from 20 states in U.S.Past participants in Best Places to WorkTM SurveyVoluntary participants29 items, 2 open-endedData Gathered Q4 2012

www.QuantumWorkplace.com

Q1: Do employees feel that the workplace encourages

authenticity?

Less than half of employees agreed with the statement "My organization embraces 

difference."

53% of employees felt that being authentic at work might have negative consequences.  

43% of employees believe that fitting in is an effective strategy for getting ahead at work

Less than 9% of employees disagree that it is important 

to fit in at work

39% feel that fitting in is rewarded at work

What is the biggest reason people choose not to be themselves at work?

Conclusion #1Question:

Do employees feel that the workplace encourages authenticity?

Answer:Mixed response.

Employees definitely feel the tension at work between the desire to be more authentic and 

the expectation to fit in.   

Q2: Is there a linkage between authenticity and employee engagement?

Authenticity accounted for over one third of the variance in engagement scores.  

Authenticity

Other Stuff

Breaking it down

1. Encouragement2. Personal Values3. Risk4. Fitting In5. Being Different

If you build it…

Encouragement Items:•People are encouraged to try new things where I work.•My organization values uniqueness in its employees.•My organization encourages people to speak up.•My manager encourages people to be themselves at work.•People are encouraged to be themselves where I work.•My organization embraces difference.•I can be myself at work.•My manager works effectively with all types of people.•Being authentic at work has negative consequences.

Conclusion #2Question 2

Is there a linkage between authenticity and employee engagement?

AnswerYES.

When people feel like their work environment actively encourages them to be themselves and operate in alignment with their values, they are 

more engaged.  

FREAK FLAGS FREAK FLAGS increase increase

EngagementEngagement

HOW

Orbiting the Giant Hairball, Gordon MacKenzie

•Clear language.•Clear expectations.•Understand authenticity as a process, not a thing.•Support, encourage and reward all parts of the process.

Getting started…

AWARENESS ACCEPTANCE

DARING INTEGRITY

AUTHENTICITY

  

awareness

  

awarenessGetting real  clarity on who you are and who you wish 

to be.

•Create time and space for reflection.•Emphasize importance of knowing yourself.•1:1 conversations about your own journey.•Talk to people about their strengths and weakness, about their values, about how they work best, how they like to be managed.

Encouraging awareness:

accomplishmentadventurechallenge

changecommunityconnectioncreativity

democracydiscoverydiversityequalityfairness

faithfamily

friendshipgenerosity

gentlenessglobal view

goodwillgoodnessgratitudehappinessharmony

healthintegrityjustice

leadershiplove

loyaltymoney

patriotismpeace

personal growthpower

quality of workreliability

resourcefulnessrespect for others

responsivenessself-reliance

service spirituality

statussuccess,tradition

tranquilitytruthunity

What would you do if you

became independently

wealthy?

What gives you joy?

acceptance

acceptance

Coming to terms with who you are, declaring it to the world, and reveling in it.

Encouraging acceptance:

•Facilitate group conversations about individual strengths and weaknesses, how to best work together. •Get people involved in setting their own goals, identifying their own development needs, opportunities.•Proclaiming goals, values, priorities.

Aligning what you do with what you believe.  

•Reward expression.•Encourage people to speak up, reward respectful disagreement.•Dress code.•Decorate office / cubicle.•Provide people with opportunities to play different roles, demonstrate different skills / passions.•Accountability partners, support, conflict

Encouraging integrity:

groupthink

groupthink:mode of thinking that happens when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative ideas or viewpoints.

RESOURCES

ABILITYPERM

ISSION

AUTHORITY

Inside the Box

daring

daring

Continuing to gather new awareness of 

your capabilities through 

adventure.

•Job shadowing & exploration.•Individualized development plans.•Different conferences, different roles, use non-profit opportunities.•Put people in over their heads, give them the opportunity to fail and make sure that they learn how to learn from that when it happens.

Encouraging daring:

GET CONNECTEDtalentanarchy.comtwitter.com/TalentAnarchy

JASON LAURITSENjason@talentanarchy.comtwitter.com/jasonlauritsen

JOE GERSTANDTjoe@talentanarchy.comtwitter.com/joegerstandt